The semi-final line-up for The Bank of Ireland Connacht Junior Cup is complete, with Ballinrobe, Creggs, Tuam and Westport all battling it out to be this year’s champion.

Ballinrobe made it into their third Junior Cup semi-final in a row, defeating a Galwegians 2nd XV who held a 19-6 lead early in the second half. However, the Mayo team didn’t give up and fought hard to eventually claim the 19-21 win in Crowley Park.

They face Creggs in the semis after they defeated Connemara in an intriguing quarter-final clash. Eoghan Coyle and Ronan Dowd were their try scorers on the day, sending their side into the last four under the lights on their home pitch.

Meanwhile, Tuam had a hard-fought victory over Dunmore, eventually coming out 6-0 victors. That was thanks to two first-half penalties from Carl Ward and a resolute defence which didn’t give anything up. They face a Westport side that got the better of University of Galway, scoring two tries to their counterparts single try in a 15-10 win.

Both semi-finals will take place the weekend of March 4/5.

The Bank of Ireland Junior Cup gets underway this weekend, with four sides making their bow in this season’s tournament.

The first of the two weekend games takes place on Saturday, as Ballina 2^nd XV host Galwegians 2^nd XV in Heffernan Park. Both sides have demonstrated mixed league form this season, with Galwegians seconds winning two and losing two in the J1C League, and Ballina winning one of their four in J1B.

This tie does renew a rivalry from last season though, when both teams were fighting relegation in J1B.

The regular season tie between the two finished 49-14 in favour of the Galway City side. However, Ballina did get the better of ‘Wegians in the Relegation final, coming out 33-22 victors to stay in J1B.

There is a clear evenness between the two teams, with the 2.30pm game on Saturday sure to be a tight affair.

This weekend’s other Bank of Ireland Junior Cup game will see Ballinrobe take on Loughrea. The home side will be hoping to build on last year’s semi-final appearance in having another strong tournament.

Although Loughrea’s league form hasn’t been brilliant this season, they have showed glimpses of what they’re capable of, most notably in their November win over Ballina 2nd XV.

This game takes place at 2.30pm on Sunday in Ballinrobe RFC. A full list of Bank of Ireland Junior Cup fixtures is available here. 

Seven teams from eight clubs have learned their opponents for this year’s Connacht U20 Cup which will be held across the month of April.
 
The U20 Cup will see teams representing Ballina, Ballinrobe, Connemara Corinthians, Creggs, Monivea/Westport and Sligo face off in a knockout series of games with three quarter-finals before two semi-finals and a decider on the Easter weekend.
 
The draw was conducted by two Connacht men who were integral to Ireland U20s Grand Slam win – forwards coach Ambrose Conboy and hooker Dylan Tierney-Martin.
 
Check out the pairings of some intruiging games we’ve got coming up in the weeks ahead!
 

QUARTER-FINALS
Sligo v Ballina
Monivea/Westport v Ballinrobe
Creggs v Connemara

SEMI-FINALS
Sligo or Ballina v Monivea/Westport or Ballinrobe
Creggs or Connemara v Corinthians